soul

/soʊl/
noun
  1. The spiritual or immaterial part of a person, often believed to continue existing after death.
    • The story is about a man who sold his soul to the devil for wealth.
    • Many cultures believe that the soul lives on after the body dies.
    • She felt a deep peace in her soul after the meditation session.
  2. A person's deeply felt emotional or moral nature; the essence of a person's character.
    • The music spoke directly to my soul.
    • Her kindness touched the souls of everyone she met.
    • He put his whole soul into writing that novel.
  3. A style of music that originated in African American culture, combining gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz, known for its emotional intensity.
    • Soul music often features powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics.
    • The radio station plays classic soul from the 1960s and 1970s.
    • Aretha Franklin is known as the Queen of Soul.
  4. The central or most important part of something; the essence.
    • The old town square is the soul of the city.
    • Good storytelling is the soul of a great movie.
    • Brevity is the soul of wit.
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Relating to or characteristic of soul music.
    • The band played a soul ballad at the wedding.
    • She has a soul voice that gives you chills.
    • He loves old soul records from the Motown era.